Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen stars as two buddies whose friendship is tested when Adam (JG-L) is diagnosed with cancer. In the process, Adam learns to smoke more weed, break up with needy bitches and draw closer to his mother (Angelica Huston) and his buddy Kyle (Rogen). Of course he also falls in love with his therapist (Anna Kendrick) Who wouldn't? A real Dramedy.
* * * of 5 Free on Netflix
Rocketman
Like with Love, the Cirque Du Soleil production of the Beatles music, we have a dream-like play based somewhat autobiographically and most important set to Elton John's music. Taron Edgerton stars as Reginald Dwight, later known as Elton John, who grows up a musical prodigy while being emotionally distant from his unfeeling father and over/undersexed mother (hard to say which).
Highlights include his first meeting Bernie Taupin, his lyricist, his first performance in L.A., his meeting his manager, uncovering his sexuality. All told in a flashback form from rehab, which only become apparent as the movie continues.
In contrast to Bohemian Rhapsody, that movie plays it a bit more straightforward. Music is rolled out in general release order. Here there's more of a dreamlike quality and the music is chosen for what it brings to the scene, not when it was really released. It works well.
* * * * *
In The Producers (2005), there's a number called "Make It Gay". The filmmakers here certainly took that to heart so consider that as part of the R rating.
Highlights include his first meeting Bernie Taupin, his lyricist, his first performance in L.A., his meeting his manager, uncovering his sexuality. All told in a flashback form from rehab, which only become apparent as the movie continues.
In contrast to Bohemian Rhapsody, that movie plays it a bit more straightforward. Music is rolled out in general release order. Here there's more of a dreamlike quality and the music is chosen for what it brings to the scene, not when it was really released. It works well.
* * * * *
In The Producers (2005), there's a number called "Make It Gay". The filmmakers here certainly took that to heart so consider that as part of the R rating.
Wine Country
Directed by and starring Amy Poehler, it's a middle-aged group of Bridesmaids getting together to celebrate turning 50 [cue panic attack]. Amy the planner (Leslie Knope character) tells everyone they can choose where to go from Napa, Hawaii and Napa. Along the way they encounter a motley assortment of Tina Fey, Jason Schwarzmann and Maya Erskine who help them realize (surprise!) that while they are all different people now than at age 18, they're still buddies.
* * of 5 - available on Netflix
* * of 5 - available on Netflix
Booksmart
In the new tradition of remaking the old comedy tropes (the last day of high school) with female leads and stories, we have Booksmart to add to the collection. Beanie Feldstein who also starred in another senior year movie Lady Bird and Kaitlyn Rezen are 2 best friends about to go in separate directions and decide to cut loose their last night a la Superbad.
So that turns into One Crazy Night. One of the scenes is a murder mystery and the whole movie has a tinge of the girls interacting with the various high school characters which of course comes as little surprise. Except for the casting: there is an intention to showcase new faces which is welcome. There are some stars in small roles: Jason Sudekis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte.
Very similar to last year's Blockers, another prom night movie. Directed by Olivia Wilde.
So that turns into One Crazy Night. One of the scenes is a murder mystery and the whole movie has a tinge of the girls interacting with the various high school characters which of course comes as little surprise. Except for the casting: there is an intention to showcase new faces which is welcome. There are some stars in small roles: Jason Sudekis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte.
Very similar to last year's Blockers, another prom night movie. Directed by Olivia Wilde.
Book Club
Here we have a Nora Eprhon/Nancy Myers style story about 4 older women in a book club reading 50 Shades of Grey and the book awaking a sexual fire in each one of them in a different manner. Each character played by Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenberger and Diane Keaton ( of course) is at a different place in their lives and each has a comedic arc.
Kudos for telling a new type of story. A lot of star power here. I might have liked a little more edge to to it but with the Sandra Bullock effect, when you have the stars, you do what they want to do.
****
Kudos for telling a new type of story. A lot of star power here. I might have liked a little more edge to to it but with the Sandra Bullock effect, when you have the stars, you do what they want to do.
Long Shot
I went expecting a Seth Rogen comedy and wound up with a Charlize Theron rom com. More Rom than Com. Unexpected in this time of year (they are usually Christmas stories), but like unexpected things, it was good.
Charlize Theron is Charlotte Field - "Madam Secretary" the Secretary of State to a Trump-ish President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk). Like in all rom coms, these beautiful, successful women can't find a date. So she meets an unexpected package, the schubby reporter Fred (Seth Rogen) at a Boys II Men show. Turns out she was his babysitter and he fantasized about her back then.
More rom com tropes emerge: the hidden nature of the relationship, the power imbalance, the disapproving friends, the crisis that bring them to the "will then or won't they?".
With a number of references both visual and auditory, it was kind of a modern reverse retelling of Pretty Woman (1990). Which turned out to be a pretty good thing.
O'Shea Jackson Jr. [you know him as Ice Cube] plays the supportive male friend.
It starts slow but builds up. Tie goes to the higher score: **** of 5
Charlize Theron is Charlotte Field - "Madam Secretary" the Secretary of State to a Trump-ish President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk). Like in all rom coms, these beautiful, successful women can't find a date. So she meets an unexpected package, the schubby reporter Fred (Seth Rogen) at a Boys II Men show. Turns out she was his babysitter and he fantasized about her back then.
More rom com tropes emerge: the hidden nature of the relationship, the power imbalance, the disapproving friends, the crisis that bring them to the "will then or won't they?".
With a number of references both visual and auditory, it was kind of a modern reverse retelling of Pretty Woman (1990). Which turned out to be a pretty good thing.
O'Shea Jackson Jr. [you know him as Ice Cube] plays the supportive male friend.
It starts slow but builds up. Tie goes to the higher score: **** of 5
Knock Down the House
One of the Sundance favorites in January about @aoc, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, newest and youngest Congresswoman from New York. The Justice Project recruited new candidates to run in the 2018 elections and this documentary filmmaker Rachel Lears followed around 4 of them, Amy Vilela of Nevada, Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia, Cori Bush of St. Louis and AOC.
One of the benefits of documentary filmmaking is the ability to edit the story to build the arc of exactly what happened. So if there is success, we see the buildup to success and if there is failure, we see the warning signs.
The New York campaigning reminded me a lot of Weiner which I saw some years ago. Since he lost, no one ever saw that film. But since AOC is a household name now, Netflix paid $10 million for this film.
AOC comes off as a real natural here and there's certainly a hero buildup after we know of her success. Her opponent Joe Crowley certainly comes across as a schlub. But really we are putty in the hands of this fine filmaker.
***** Highest rating
One of the benefits of documentary filmmaking is the ability to edit the story to build the arc of exactly what happened. So if there is success, we see the buildup to success and if there is failure, we see the warning signs.
The New York campaigning reminded me a lot of Weiner which I saw some years ago. Since he lost, no one ever saw that film. But since AOC is a household name now, Netflix paid $10 million for this film.
AOC comes off as a real natural here and there's certainly a hero buildup after we know of her success. Her opponent Joe Crowley certainly comes across as a schlub. But really we are putty in the hands of this fine filmaker.
***** Highest rating
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